News Articles

This site contains over 2,000 news articles, legal briefs and publications related to for-profit companies that provide correctional services. Most of the content under the "Articles" tab below is from our Prison Legal News site. PLN, a monthly print publication, has been reporting on criminal justice-related issues, including prison privatization, since 1990. If you are seeking pleadings or court rulings in lawsuits and other legal proceedings involving private prison companies, search under the "Legal Briefs" tab. For reports, audits and other publications related to the private prison industry, search using the "Publications" tab.

For any type of search, click on the magnifying glass icon to enter one or more keywords, and you can refine your search criteria using "More search options." Note that searches for "CCA" and "Corrections Corporation of America" will return different results.

Kentucky County Settles Loss of Consortium Suit for Undisclosed Amount

Loaded on Aug. 15, 2008

Filed under: Work Release, CMS, Medication, Diabetes, Wrongful Death, Medical Neglect/Malpractice. Location: Kentucky.

Phillip D. Hurst, a Kentucky prisoner, was taking prescribed methadone. When he returned one night to a Lexington County work release center in an intoxicated state, he was examined by two nurses who thought he was experiencing diabetes-related symptoms. He wasn't seen by a doctor, but the nurses periodically checked his vital signs. Hurst was later found dead from a methadone overdose. His daughter and estate sued the county, Correctional Medical Services, the two nurses and other officials in federal district court.

The county settled a loss of consortium claim with Hurst's daughter for an undisclosed amount, but the nurses prevailed at trial on a negligence claim in March 2007. See: Hurst v. Lexington Fayette Urban Co. Government, U.S.D.C. (E.D. Ky.), Case No. 5:05-cv-00214-JBC.

Additional source: 11 Kentucky Trial Court Review No. 4 (2007)

Related legal case

Hurst v. Lexington Fayette Urban Co. Government

Year	2007
Cite	U.S.D.C. (E.D. Ky.), Case No. 5:05-cv-00214-JBC
Level	District Court
Conclusion	Settlement
Injunction Status	N/A